Gareth Southgate hints under-fire England star will start Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland

Gareth Southgate addressing the press before England’s quarter-final (Picture: Getty)

Gareth Southgate has hinted under-fire Kieran Trippier will retain his place in the England team for Saturday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.

Despite contributing to England’s tight defensive record at the Euros, Trippier has been criticised for offering the Three Lions little going forward.

Natural right-back Trippier is playing on the left as the only left-back in England’s squad, Luke Shaw, is still recovering from a long-term hamstring problem.

The Manchester United defender returned to full training last week but Southgate has hinted he will remain on the bench when England take on Switzerland for a place in the semi-finals.

Southgate was asked at his pre-match press conference whether Shaw could start at left-back but proceeded to heap praise on Trippier.

‘Kieran Trippier has been absolutely outstanding for us. Luke is available he’s available to start but Kieran has also done a brilliant job for the team.

‘He obviously doesn’t give us the balance that a natural left-footer gives you but his leadership, his communication, his talking – just ask the players he plays with – is phenomenal and it helps them to play the game.

Kieran Trippier at England’s Euros training camp (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s a much under-valued quality and a bit of a dying art I think. You can’t have enough good talkers on the pitch and he has exceptional quality in that area as well as quality on the ball.

‘He’s adapted and done a brilliant, brilliant job for us.’

England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final opponents Switzerland knocked out European champions Italy last time out.

Saturday’s fixture will be Southgate’s 100th in charge but he insisted that milestone is the ‘last thing on my mind’.

‘I’m very proud but it is the least important stat of the week,’ Southgate said. ‘The only thing that matters is it is a quarter-final and my complete focus is to get my country into another semi-final.

‘I’m sure in years to come I will look back and reflect with great pride. But at the moment it is the last thing on my mind.’

Southgate also defended another player who has attracted criticism out in Germany, with Premier League player of the year Phil Foden struggling to reproduce his Manchester City form for England.

‘Phil has done a fantastic job for the team,’ the Three Lions boss added. ‘He has had to adapt his game a little bit.

‘Playing a club level every week you know the movements of every player and there’s a clear way of playing, so you are doing things without thinking so often.

‘With the national team that is not possible, you don’t have the same cohesion and there isn’t the same dynamic.

‘We are delighted with what he has done. He was unfortunate with the disallowed goal in the last game. I know he would like a goal. We aren’t concerned about his performance.’

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